Joy and Steve Retmier of Hemet comfort each other as they discuss their 19-year-old son, Marc Retmier, a Navy hospitalman who was the 500th California fatality in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Karen Tapia-Andersen / Los Angeles Times)
Neighbor Bob Fechner, left, hugs Steven Retmier at his home in Hemet. Retmier lost his 19 year-old son Marc Retmier. who was recently killed in Iraq. (Karen Tapia-Andersen / Los Angeles Times)
